How Does The Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System Work? - Ford Mustang 2001 Owner's Manual

Seating and safety restraints
How does the air bag supplemental restraint
system work?
The air bag SRS is
designed to activate
when the vehicle
sustains longitudinal
deceleration sufficient
to cause the sensors to
close an electrical
circuit that initiates air
bag inflation.
The fact that the air bags did not inflate in a
collision does not mean that something is wrong
with the system. Rather, it means the forces were
not of the type sufficient to cause activation. Air
bags are designed to inflate in frontal and
near-frontal collisions, not rollover, side-impact, or
rear-impacts unless the collision causes sufficient
longitudinal deceleration.
The air bags inflate and
deflate rapidly upon
activation. After air bag
deployment, it is
normal to notice a
smoke-like, powdery
residue or smell the
burnt propellant. This
may consist of
cornstarch, talcum
powder (to lubricate
the bag) or sodium
compounds (e.g., baking soda) that result from the
combustion process that inflates the air bag. Small
amounts of sodium hydroxide may be present which
may irritate the skin and eyes, but none of the
residue is toxic.
While the system is designed to help reduce serious
injuries, contact with a deploying air bag may also
cause abrasions, swelling or temporary hearing loss.
Because air bags must inflate rapidly and with
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